Switching device



J. SLEPIAN,

SWITCHING DEVICE.

APPLICATIONVFILED SEPT 16, 191B.

1 ,857,257 Patenmd Nov. 2, 1920,

WlTNESSES: lNVENTOR Joseph 5/e oian.

Wfl Q BY ATTbRNEY JOSEPH SLEPIAN, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCHING DEVICE. 2

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Application filed September 16, 1918. Serial No. 254=,211.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrrr SLEPIAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switching Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switching de' Vices and particularly to means for preventing arcing between the contact members thereof.

One object of my invention is to provide means whereby a circuit may be opened with a minimum degree of arcing.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the energy stored in a circuit may be used to charge a condenser when the circuit is opened and the condenser be permitted to discharge through an energy-absorbing device only when the circuit is closed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of-the above-indicated character that shall be simple and inexpensive to construct and effective in its operation.

In practising my invention, I provide a switch for controlling the insertion of a resistor in a circuit. An impedance device and a condenser are connected in series across the terminals of the switch and an asymmetric valve is connected across the terminals ofthe impedance device to permit the energy from the resistor to traverse the valve and thereby charge the condenser when the switch is opened, thus preventing arcing at the switching contact members. When the switch is closed, the condenser discharges through the impedance device only and thus the discharge is so absorbed that no arcing will occur between the contact members of the switch.

The single figure of the accompanying drawings is a. diagrammatic view of a switching device for a direct-current circuit embodying my invention.

A direct-current circuit 1 is provided with a resistor 2 having a switch 3 connected in shunt relation thereto for the purpose of short circuiting the resistor and. thereby rendering it ineffective in the circuit 1. With the arrangementof the switch shown in the drawing, the stored energy in the circuit 1 will cause arcing between the contact members of the switch when they are moved into and out of engagement.

In order to prevent arcing between the contact members of the switch, an impedance device 4 is connected in series with a condenser 5, and the circuit, thus constituted, is connected across the terminals of 'the switch 3. An asymmetric valve 6, such as a vapor or mercury-arc rectifier, is connected across the terminals of the impedance device 4 and is so arranged that, when the switch 3 is opened, the current from the circuit 1 will traverse the valve 6 to prevent arcing between the switch contact members. Since the impedance device 4 is shunted by the valve 6, the current that would traverse the switch 3 traverses the valve 6 and so freely charges the condenser 5 that the energy of the circuit is stored therein.

When the switch 3 is closed, the condenser 5 discharges, and, since it cannot be discharged through the valve 6, it discharges through the impedance device 4, and thus the energy that is stored in the condenser 5 is dissipated in the impedance device 4, and no arcing will obtain when the switch 3 is closed.

The essential features of the invention are, that the energy, which would ordinarily cause arcing between the contact members of the switch, is stored in a condenser, upon opening the switch, and is discharged through an energy-absorbing device, upon closing the switch, and, further, the switch ing of the energy-absorbing device into and out of operative relation with the condenser, which is obtained by the inherent action of the valve, requires no moving mechanisms, such as relays.

My invention is not limited to the particular switching arrangement illustrated, as it may be variously modified and adapted to various other switching arrangements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric circuit, the combination with a series-connected resistor and a switch for short-circuiting the same, of means connected in shunt relation to the switch to ermit free absorption of the energy store in the circuit when the switch is opened.

2. The combination witha resistor and a switch for short-circuiting'the same, of a circuit connected in shunt relation to the switch and comprising an asymmetric valve, a reactor connected in shunt relation thereto, and a condenser connected in series with the valve.

3. In an electric circuit, the combination with a resistor and a switch so connected thereto as to control the insertion of the resistor in the circuit, of an impedance device, a condenser connected in series with the impedance device, and a valve connected in shunt relation to the impedance device, the circuit comprising the valve, condenser and impedance device being connected in shunt relation to the switch to permit arcless' operation thereof.

4. In an electric circuit, the combination with a resistor and a switch so connected thereto as to control the insertion of the resistor in the circuit, of a condenser and an impedance device connected in series across the terminals of the switch, and means connected in shunt relation to the impedance device to permit free charging of the condenser during the opening of the switch and to permit the condenser to discharge through the impedance device only when the switch is closed.

5. In an electric circuit, the combination with a resistor and a switch therefor, of a reactor and a condenser connected in series across the switch, and a valve so connected to the reactor that the condenser will be charged when the switch is opened and will be discharged through the reactor only when the switch is closed.

6. In an electric circuit, the combination with a resistor and a switch therefor, of an impedance device and a condenser connected in series across the switch, and an asymmetric valve so connected in shunt relation to the impedance device that the condenser will discharge through the impedance device only when the switch is closed.

7. In an electric circuit, the combination with a resistor and a switch therefor, of an reams? impedance device. and a condenser connected in series across the switch, and an asymmetric valve so connected in shunt relation to the impedance device that the condenser will be charged through the valve when the switch is opened.

8. In an electric circuit, the combination with a resistor and a switch therefor, of an energy-absorbing means, a condenser connected across the switch, and means for permitting the condenser to be charged freely when the switch is opened and to be discharged through the energy-absorbing means when the switch is closed.

9. In an electric circuit, the combination with a resistor and a switch connected in shunt relation thereto, of a condenser, means for freely charging the condenser with the energy stored in the circuit when the switch is opened, and an energy-absorbing means for absorbing the charge of the condenser when the switch is closed.

10. In an electric circuit, the combination with a switch, of a condenser connected in shunt relation to the switch, an energy-absorbing device connected in series with the condenser, and means for causing the condenser to be freely charged when the switch is opened and to be discharged through the energy-absorbing device when the switch is closed.

11. In an electric circuit, the combination with a switch, of a condenser connected in shunt relation to the switch, an energy-absorbing device connected in series with the condenser, and an asymmetric valve con nected across the energy-absorbing device for causing the condenser to be freely charged when the switch is opened and to be discharged through the energy-absorbing device when the switch is closed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of Aug, 1918.

JOSEPH SLEPIAN. 

